Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) Shibboleth (2005) User Reviews

Sins Of The Father

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 1 July 2008]

I think it's always a nice touch, and very intriguing one, when halfway through a case the good guys (here, meaning Det. Robert Goren and Det. Alex Eames) figure that they've got the wrong guy, and they've got to continue to search for the real killer.

That's what happens here, although the wrong suspect and the right wrong are.....well, linked about as closely as you could ever ask.

I was glad to see Courtney B. Vance get some air time, showing "A.D.A. Ron Carver" at work at a Grand Jury hearing, doing his stuff. I've always found him interesting and his role is usually not very big. Here, here gets more time and doesn't disappoint.

Paul Sparks is riveting as the "Keith Durbin" but veteran actor Kevin Conway steals the show as his dad, "Frank McNare." This is another bizarre and fascinating story.

The eclectic mind

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 9 January 2016]

One of the stranger yet a very good Criminal Intent episode as the particular talents of Detective Robert Goren are called into play here. Vincent D'Onofrio was always called on to work on cases that are quirky and after he and Kathryn Erbe arrest Paul Sparks for a brutal killing, it's Captain Jamey Sheridan who recognizes the pattern of a serial killer who stopped operating a dozen years earlier. Or did he?

Sparks definitely has issues, but the CI detectives start looking again even after Sparks is indicted. Only the eclectic mind of Robert Goren figures out the connection between all the female victims who are killed in the same matter. The killer is taunting the cops to find him.

When they do find him it turns out to be Kevin Conway who is a sexual sadist and gives a performance that will chill your soul for days.

I'm also agreeing with the other reviewer who said that he liked the fact that ADA Ron Carver got in the story more than usual. I always liked Courtney B. Vance's work in CI and I wish he had more to do and in this story he has.

But you won't forget Kevin Conway after seeing this episode.

Life or death

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 21 October 2020]

When one hears nothing but great things about an episode and sees many fans deem it a season and show high-point/favourite, it is very hard to not have high expectations. Especially when the concept also is so great. The case on both counts with "Shibboleth". Season 4 had a lot of great ideas and themes, some intriguingly strange, on paper, as did 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' in general, though not all of them completely lived up to their potential.

"Shibboleth" is one of those 'Criminal Intent' episodes with particularly interesting ideas that not only did live up to its potential but it also exceeded it. Am in complete agreement with those that consider it one of the best episodes of the fourth season and when it comes to the show in general it is right up there as a standout. "Shibboleth" is a very disturbing, sometimes strange and at times surprisingly moving episode, with great performances and interesting characters. Nothing conventional about how the story is told.

There is a huge amount to love about "Shibboleth". It starts off brilliantly, one of my favourite openings of the show in fact thanks to its nail-biting creepiness. The intrigue never dampens, neither does the suspense there from the start or the emotional impact. There is a strangeness at times, such as the murderer's unique (for the show) modus operandi, but the strangeness doesn't get over the top or senseless thankfully.

It is a brilliantly written episode as well. Goren's perceptions, Eames' sass, the very nuanced character development of Durbin and how the perpetrator makes one sick to the stomach are very note-worthy and there are some both tense and entertaining exchanges throughout. The case is one of the season's best, it is intricate without being over-plotted or convoluted, it is very tightly paced without being rushed and it is laden with atmosphere from the very beginning that really haunts.

Goren and Eames work so well together and are still great characters. Am another person too that absolutely loved seeing more of Carver, always liked him and have always felt he was underused so it was great to see him at his most interesting in some time. Durbin is fascinating as a character, his vulnerability beautifully written and acted while the perpetrator is one of the season's and show's most sadistic. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are terrific as always. Paul Sparks does tormented so movingly, fear and compassion poignantly delivered. Kevin Conway is here absolutely chilling.

Concluding, incredible. 10/10

You're no son of mine

[Mrpalli77 · 14 September 2017]

Could the sadism be passed down from father to son? That's an issue that tear down the main character of Law & Order franchise. I remember Det. Olivia Benson, as a rapist's daughter, had to face this thing down throughout the SVU series because of his step brother. Anyway, the criminal offspring usually suffers from their abusive parents; the poor Keith (Paul Sparks) can't deal with something horrible seen during his childhood and even if he's in his thirties and a lot of water flew under the bridge, he doesn't manage to find a job, he can't live a normal sexual life and he's afraid of everything.

The old man (Kevin Conway) it's the one who should spend his entire life behind bars. How could a man throw mud to his only child?